ADELAIDE, South Australia, April 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionomics Limited (ASX:BNO) (ADR:BMICY) is delivering three poster presentations at the 105th Annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting at the San Diego Convention Center this week.
The meeting is expected to draw 18,000 researchers from major pharmaceutical companies and academia, patient advocates and other cancer professionals worldwide, making it the premier cancer research event on the calendar. The event commenced Saturday 5 April and discusses the latest discoveries in research over five days.
Bionomics' Vice President of US Operations and Cancer Biology Dr Peter Chu will present Targeting colorectal and pancreatic cancer stem cells with the LGR5 monoclonal antibody BNC101 . LGR5 is a validated cancer stem cell receptor associated with most solid tumours including colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Bionomics' cancer stem cell antibody BNC101 specifically targets LGR5 and new preclinical data demonstrates that the antibody is active in models of pancreatic cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. It has also shown effectiveness when combined with standard of care chemotherapy treatments in pancreatic cancer.
Studies conducted in the laboratory of Dr Alan Eastman, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at The Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA will be presented in the poster entitled The microtubule-disrupting drug BNC105 is a potent inducer of acute apoptosis in CLL. This poster highlights a new element in the mechanism of action of BNC105, being a potent activator of proteins that lead to cancer cell death. This suggests it is an excellent candidate for clinical trials to induce acute cancer cell death in blood cancers, in particular chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Annabell Leske, Research Associate for Drug Development, will deliver the poster BL-011256 is a novel VEGFR3 selective inhibitor, which suppresses tumour lymphatics and lymph node metastasis in an animal model of melanoma. The mechanism of action of BL-011256 operates through the inhibition of a key receptor which controls the formation of tumour lymphatic vessels which in turn serve as conduits for cancer to spread to lymph nodes.
For those attending the meeting the poster presentations can be seen at the following times and locations:
- BNC101 – 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Tuesday 8 April (Hall A-E, Poster Section 2)
- BNC105 – 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Sunday 6 April (Hall A-E, Poster Section 34)
- VEGFR3 – 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Tuesday 8 April (Hall A-E, Poster Section 7)
About Bionomics Limited
Bionomics (ASX:BNO) is biopharmaceutical company which discovers and develops innovative therapeutics for cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. Bionomics has small molecule product development programs in the areas of cancer, anxiety, memory loss and pain. Its oncology approach includes cancer stem cell therapeutics as well as vascular disruption in solid tumours. Bionomics partners include Merck & Co and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals.
Bionomics' discovery and development activities are driven by its four proprietary technology platforms: MultiCore®, a diversity orientated chemistry platform for the discovery of small molecule drugs; ionX® , a set of novel technologies for the identification of drugs targeting ion channels for diseases of the central nervous system; Angene®, a drug discovery platform which incorporates a variety of genomics tools to identify and validate novel angiogenesis targets (involved in the formation of new blood vessels); and CSC Rx Discovery™, which identifies antibody and small molecule therapeutics that inhibit the growth of cancer stem cells. These platforms drive Bionomics' pipeline and underpin its established business strategy of securing partners for its key compounds. Bionomics partners include Merck & Co and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals.
www.bionomics.com.au
Factors Affecting Future Performance
This announcement contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the United States' Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to prospective events or developments, including, without limitation, statements made regarding Bionomics' development candidates BNC105, IW- 2143 (BNC210), BNC101 and BNC375, our acquisition of Eclipse Therapeutics and ability to develop products from their platform, its licensing deals with Merck & Co and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, drug discovery programs and pending patent applications are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks related to our available funds or existing funding arrangements, a downturn in our customers' markets, our failure to introduce new products or technologies in a timely manner, Ironwood's decisions to continue or not continue development of IW-2143, Merck's decisions to continue or not to continue development of partnered compounds, regulatory changes, risks related to our international operations, our inability to integrate acquired businesses and technologies into our existing business and to our competitive advantages, as well as other factors. Results of studies performed on competitors products may vary from those reported when tested in different settings.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable legislation or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which our securities are quoted, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this presentation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Bionomics Limited Dr Deborah Rathjen CEO & Managing Director +618 8354 6101 / 0418 160 425 Monsoon Communications Rudi Michelson +613 9620 3333 The Trout Group Lauren Glaser +1 646 378 2972
